Confronting the Grinches in Our Lives

Every Who Down in Who-ville Liked Christmas a lot...

But the Grinch, Who lived just North of Who-ville, Did NOT!

The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!

Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason. I

t could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right.

It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.

But I think that the most likely reason of all

May have been that his heart was two sizes too small. 

So goes the prologue to Dr. Seuss' Christmas Classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It was a story that, as a little boy, I was introduced to through the holiday cartoon which spurred me on to reading that and many other Dr. Seuss children's books. Today, of course, one can look forward to watching it televised, rent it on DVD, and we're not bound by the cartoon version as Jim Carrey starred in a "real life" movie version a few years back.

This weekend we welcome the new liturgical year and we enter the holy season of Advent. The Latin word adventus literally means "coming," and this is the hope-filled season of expectant waiting that Christians observe around the world. The question is, "What are we waiting for?" or, more specifically, "Who?"

The characters in the Dr. Seuss classic were experts at preparation. The inhabitants of Whoville were the masters of preparing for the celebration of Christmas through elaborate decorating, masterful wrapping of gifts, and seeing to the meticulous details that needed to be address to insure a festive celebration of Christmas. But, alas, the celebration for which they had so industriously prepared, so meticulous planned, was to be disrupted by one solitary soul who just couldn't get into the spirit of the season.

The readings this weekend remind of to be diligent in our preparations, not simply for festive celebrations, but for the time when we will welcome he who is the center of the celebrations, albeit that he is in danger of being lost in the commercial aspects of these weeks. We are beckoned to stay sober and alert, to be like Noah - diligent in our preparations for that time of which we know not the day nor the hour but a time that will surely come, regardless of our readiness.

The gospel uses images such as the thief that enters the house in the middle of the night, whose presence is unknown to the inhabitants - sort of like the Grinch and his makeshift reindeer. Yet, this visitor comes to claim those who are his own, the fulfill promises made long ago, sealed in a covenant borne in blood and extended through the waters of baptism.

The reality is that, despite the graces that flow from those baptismal waters - indeed from the entirety of the sacramental life of the Church's worship - there are going to be times when we encounter grinches in our lives.  No, these grinches are not furry green beings posing as Santa Claus. As a matter of fact, they may or may not be people at all for that matter.

This holiday season there are parts of our country when people will be confronted with advertisements in newspapers and on transit vehicles sponsored by associations of atheists that will engage in taking passages of scripture out of context to exposed the so-called "absurdity" of a belief in God and the embracing of organized religion. They will contend, and rightly so, that one can be a good person without being a believer in God. However, while one might be able to be a good person, in the sense of doing good works without an inherent belief in God, that certainly does not make one a godly person. Their challenge should simply serve to reinforce the reason why we have a teaching church connected with the sacred words of scripture in order to shed light on those passages and how they are relevant to us. Afterall, without the enlightenment offered through magisterial teaching, what would we make of the passage of whereby Elisha ascends Mt. Carmel and calls down the wrath of God upon 42 youth who were calling out to him "Go up, baldy!" They are maimed by two she-bears. (cf 2 Kings 2:23-24) No, Elisha wasn't misusing his power, nor was God punishing for simply bad manners. Rather, they were not only mocking the man, but rejecting God, telling Elisha to be gone and to take the Lord's words with him!

Grinches need not be people. They can also be those circumstances that we find in our lives. A family crisis, an unexpected illness, the loss of a job - can all put dampers on our holiday celebrations. Confronting the reality of life without a loved one for the first time during the holidays can be quite sobering and dampen our holiday spirits. Being preoccupied with our worries and concerns can call our attention away from God and rob us of our ability to celebrate. Even feeling overwhelmed by all that needs to be accomplished between now and December 25 can drive us a little nuts to the point where the details of the celebration itself can threaten to be the Grinch the takes our attention off the purpose of the celebration in the first place!

Dr. Seuss' Grinch did everything he could to wreck havoc on the Christmas celebrations of Whoville. Yet, on Christmas day the mourning and crying didn't come. Instead we learn:

So he paused. And the Grinch put a hand to his ear.

And he did hear a sound rising over the snow. I

t started in low.

Then it started to grow...

But the sound wasn't sad! Why, this sound sounded merry!

It couldn't be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!

He stared down at Who-ville! The Grinch popped his eyes!

Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!

Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,

Was singing! Without any presents at all!

He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!

Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, S

tood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?

It came without ribbons! It came without tags!

"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"

And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! "

Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. "

Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!" 

Indeed, this holy season of Advent reminds us that Christmas means not a little bit, but A LOT more than the presents and the parties. Rather it's meaning lies in a PERSON, the person of Jesus Christ. We protect ourselves from the grinches of life as we nurture our spiritual lives as we engage in a regiment of prayer  that leads to a personal relationship with the Lord, preparing us for the day of his coming. We cast off the effects of the grinches to the point where we cling to the truth that, regardless of how negative a circumstance can be that God has the potential for using it for some greater good.

Our parish is challenged this season to prepare our house to receive the guests. First and foremost, we prepare ourselves to receive Jesus into our hearts each and every day. But on a purely human level we also prepare this house, God's house, to receive those who will enter to celebrate the Savior's birth - perhaps being absent since Easter, or last Christmas, or many Christmases ago! Let us prepare of welcome for them as we prepare to welcome the Christ!

This weekend we launch our parish celebration of Forty Hours - a Eucharistic Devotion that calls us to come before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, interceding especially for those who have wandered from the loving arms of the Lord. Fr. Daniel Francis is leading our three days and I encourage you to gather each evening - Monday and Tuesday - at 7 PM to join in prayer, and thereafter each Advent Tuesday at 7 PM to pray for those who may be considering "coming home" for Christmas. Let them come to find us engaged in a celebration not rooted in presents, but in the presence of Jesus in our midst! Imagine how God can use us.

And what happened then...? Well...in Who-ville they say

That the Grinch's small heart Grew three sizes that day!

And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight,

He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light

And he brought back the toys! And the food for the feast!

And he ...HE HIMSELF...! The Grinch carved the roast beast!

May the Lord find us ready to receive him as we celebrate his birth in just a few short weeks.

November 28, 2010

First Sunday of Advent

It's Amazing What A Simple "Thank You" Can Do!

This weekend’s gospel reading is the story of Jesus healing the ten lepers. Besides being an account of the Lord’s great healing power and desire for us to be whole, as well as holy, people, it is also a teaching moment where Jesus challenges us to have an “attitude of gratitude.” Ten were healed, only one returned to give thanks to God. The gospels so often reflect the reality of life, don’t they? Being the master teacher, Jesus was able to take everyday events and push them to a deeper meaning.

Each week we as church are challenged to “return to the Lord” and give thanks. It is here that we receive the Lord’s love and acceptance in baptism; here again where our sins are forgiven and we experience the Lord’s mercy. It is here that we gather around the altar to celebrate the mystery of our faith and participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and mystically experience the events of Calvary as well as being nourished by the Body and Blood of the Risen Lord. It is before the altar that solemn vows are pronounced by couples entering the Sacrament of Matrimony. Likewise, it is here that we are sealed and gifted by God’s Holy Spirit! We also sacramentally celebrate the Lord’s desire to heal us in the Anointing of the Sick. (Take note: We will have a Communal Anointing Mass later this month!)  My point is that life is somehow circular. It is from here that we are configured with Christ and it is to here that we are called to give thanks, so that our lives can be truly characterized by an “attitude of gratitude.”  Sadly, sometimes we are like the nine and just go on our way, forgetting the blessings the Lord has bestowed on us.

As we celebrate the Eucharist (the Greek word eucharistia literally means “thanksgiving), let this be a time where we give our all in giving thanks to the Lord for all he’s done for us. The writer Annie Dillard once wrote that when we come to Church we shouldn’t be simply dressed in our finery. She suggests, rather, that we come wearing protective helmets since the encounter we have with the living God is so powerful, rich and close. By giving our all, and exercising this act of gratitude we should come away from Mass refreshed, but also perhaps somewhat exhausted – if we are putting our all into it.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. I’m a football fan, and I love the Baltimore Ravens. (I know this is a shocker.) But think of the enthusiasm and excitement and energy that we experience at a football stadium or even in front of the TV with friends, particularly when our team does well. We shout! We cheer! We scream! Sometimes we make total fools of ourselves! Why? Because we love and support our team! Now here’s a challenge: Can we do the same for God? Can our excitement be stirred up to the point that we want to burst out in song, reach out to a visitor and extend a hand of welcome, drop to our knees in reverence as the bread and wine become his Body and Blood? It’s not necessarily about volume, but it is about intensity! Like that leper can we be deliberate and intentional and intense in our giving thanks to God at Mass?

I, for one, am thankful to the Lord for the great gift of priesthood. Some days I wonder why God would have chosen me. It’s certainly not because I’m any more worthy than anybody else sitting in church on Sunday! I just have to trust that he is teaching me to be grateful and to count my blessings and to do what I can with what he’s given me to spread his joy and love – and believe me, I do love being his priest! (Want to know more? Give me a call!)

This Monday I leave for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Bishop Denis Madden and a group of priests. Please keep us in your prayers and know that you and your intentions will be in mine as we pray and celebrate Mass at all the holy sites. We will return on Oct. 22.  And THANK YOU for all you do to make this such a wonderful parish community!

Increase Our Faith

This weekend we are so happy to welcome Bishop Neil Tiedemann of the Diocese of Mandeville, Jamaica, home to our two sister parishes of St. Philomena and St. Margaret Mary. Bishop Tiedemann is preaching at the Masses this weekend and sharing with us about his ministry and the people of his diocese. Two groups of parishioners have visited our sister parishes and done some mission work there and our Jamaica Outreach Committee is busy working year round, raising funds to support the mission trips as well as funding repairs to some of the buildings. The Jamaica Team will be hosting a light luncheon reception following the Sunday Noon Mass in the Gathering Space Meeting Room. Bishop Tiedemann will be speaking in more detail and exploring how we might best support the people and mission of his diocese, comprised of some 8,800 Catholics. If you’re interested in learning more, or getting involved in nurturing our sister parish relationships, or possibly even taking part in one of our future visits, please come to the meeting.

This weekend’s gospel reading finds the apostles approaching Jesus with a simple request: Increase our faith. Who among us haven’t in some way made that same request of the Lord at some point in time. I know personally I make such a request when my faith is tested, when things aren’t going the way I might have hoped, or when things seemed to be moving beyond my realm of control or influence. Sound familiar? Perhaps one of the greatest hurdles  in life is coming to an acceptance that we can’t control every situation much less every person. Of course, we all know, life would be so perfect if everyone thought the way we think and responded the way we would. Naturally, that sort of approach to life is unrealistic to say the least. In responding to the apostles Jesus tells them that it’s not that our faith needs so much to increase, but that we simply need to use the gift of faith that we already possess, regardless of how “small” it might seem!

In reflecting on this, we might very well conclude that’s true in life on a number of levels. It’s not that we need more, more, more so much as learning to really use what we have. There’s a story of a pastor who addressed his congregation and told them: “I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that we have everything we need to finance all of our programs, take care of our buildings, and fund all of our outreaches. The bad news is that it’s still in your wallets!” Well, to a degree that’s true for us as individuals and as a community. It’s not so much that we need more of anything. We need to put to use whatever it is that we have, even if we might think that it amounts to little more than the size of a mustard seed. The gospel is a call to employ the tremendous gifts God has bestowed on us by way of the greatest treasure we possess – our faith in Jesus Christ – joined to those unique gifts we hold by way of our personal time, talents, and treasure. Somehow, when we put our faith into action, it all somehow works!

On October 11 I will be leaving to take part in a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Bishop Denis Madden and several other Maryland priests, and will return on October 22. This pilgrimage will take us to many of the holy sites in the land where Jesus lived and ministered as well as to where he suffered, died, and rose! If you have prayer intentions that you would like me to carry, and remember in my prayers and masses at the sacred sites, I’d be more than happy to do so. Just send them to me via email or a personal note as soon as possible. Please keep us all in your prayers.

And, so as not to disappoint, you know what I’ll be hoping for this afternoon as my Ravens take on the Pittsburgh Steelers: a victory for the purple and black! And, of course, I’ll be praying for no serious injuries to any of the players.

Lost and Found

In just about any public venue, we find some area designated as the “lost and found.” It might be a box, a closet, or some container with items that people have mistakenly left behind. Sometimes it’s through distraction, other times carelessness. Most of us have had the experience of misplacing something. My experience is that the vast number of lost and found items end up being unclaimed.

This weekend’s gospel, from Luke 15, contain parables rooted in the very common “lost and found” experience: lost sheep, lost coins, lost children.  The illustration in each parable contains a sense of urgency, and it doesn’t always make sense. We hear of 99 sheep left to watch out for each other while the shepherd takes off to find the missing one. The frantic woman turns the house upside down looking for the one coin in ten that she misplaces and then seemingly hosts a celebration when it’s found. (It must have been a rather valuable piece of currency!) Lastly, the father mourns the loss of the son who essentially abandons the family, rejects all that he has been taught, and gives himself over to a life of dissolute living. Yet, when this “bad” son comes home, prepared to beg for mercy on his hands and knees, the forgiving father calls for a celebration on the return of the prodigal.

Certainly the point here isn’t one of elevating the neglect of the 99, or forgetting the other nine, or taking for granted the single remaining faithful one. Rather, Jesus uses these parables to portray God as the diligent shepherd, the frantic housewife, the loving father, in an effort to remind us how deep the love and concern of God runs! We are the sheep, the coin, the prodigal for which God searches! When we are found and reconciled it is God who calls for the celebration!

Does God not call us to imitate him in our dedication to seeking out the lost and celebrating those who are found? The proclamation of the Gospel and the evangelization of nations is the basic calling of the Church. We are called to preach and proclaim, sanctify and serve a world that is wounded by sin and disillusionment. One of the great priorities that our Pastoral Council has identified for our parish community is that we nurture an environment here at St. John’s that is warm and welcoming. Evangelization should color all that we do in every ministry and outreach in which we engage. The visitor should not be made to feel as a stranger, but rather find a warm welcome. While the church building is not a social hall, and should always be a prayerful space, we need to be aware of those around us. Sometimes a simple greeting of welcome makes all the difference as to whether a person returns. So many are seeking the Lord and somehow find us during times in their lives when they need the Lord the most. He is present in our tabernacle. Let him also be present in our kind words and actions!

Pope Benedict XVI has echoed John Paul II’s call for a new evangelization – a re-evangelization of a world that is more and more being described as “post-Christian.” Pray about how you can do your part. I’d love for you to consider the possibility of ministering in our formation programs to youth and adults. We really, really need dedicated adults to serve as catechists for our children. Call the Religious Ed Office and speak with John Poland, Cassandra Anderson, or Jen Mayer to see whether you might be needed: teaching religious ed, helping with sacramental preparation, working with our middle or high school teens or helping with our RCIA, Bible studies, or adult faith formation programs! We evangelize as we bring in the seeking, bring back the lost, and bring forward stronger disciples of the Lord.

Church Preparing to Launch New Missal

Last week Fr. Michael and I attended a workshop on the implementation of the new Roman Missal at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, along with many other priests and diocesan directors of worship from around the country. The workshop is one of 22 similar events around the country to help parish leaders prepare for the expected implementation in Advent, 2011 of the new English translation of the prayers used in the celebration of Mass. While the text has already received the required recognition, or approval, from the pope, the final product hasn’t been released pending some minor “tweaking” as well as consideration of local adaptations that were requested from various English-speaking countries. What we will receive will be the English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal that was approved (in Latin) by Pope John Paul II. Now, it is being translated into the vernacular languages.

While the direct impact on our parish worship is about 16 months away, I feel it important to share with you some highlights now so that this doesn’t hit our community as a surprise, although I suspect for some it will come as such regardless. The translations that we receive will be notable as a more literal translation of the Latin text, further connecting our prayers with those of Catholics speaking other languages. Some have noted that the language is more poetic, taking on a more formal tone in the context of worship. In that sense, it may sound a little unfamiliar to our ears as compared to our spoken language, yet this will be the translation used in every English-speaking country.

We look forward to a new translation of the Gloria and a number of the congregational responses in addition to new translations of the opening prayers (henceforth referred to as collects), prayers over the gifts, and prayers after communion. Through all of this I believe the most notable, in that it will be the most noticeable and perhaps the most difficult transition, comes with the simple response by the people when the priest addresses the assembly: The Lord be with you. The people’s response will now become And with your spirit (a literal translation of the Latin et cum spiritu tuo). It seems rather minor, but this response has been repeated so many times that I imagine it will take some getting used to. Theologically, it has to do with the nature of priesthood. The priest, as celebrant of the Eucharist and other sacraments, stands in persona Christi (in the person of Christ) meaning that, in reality, it is the action of Christ, not that of the individual priest, that brings about the grace received in these acts of worship. This is not a personal gift of the priest, but rather a gift bestowed for the benefit of the faithful. When you eventually are responding and with your spirit, I hope that you will be praying that God’s Holy Spirit will be working in and through me as a priest and that as I preside at a sacrament that I will do so in a most worthy manner. This translation takes us from seeing what might otherwise pass as a simple greeting to an invitation for the priest to enter more profoundly into the celebration of the sacred mysteries, thereby deepening the liturgical experience for the faithful gathered in prayer.

Also, the translations will render more precise theological language. For instance, the phrase in the Creed that is presently recited as Jesus being one in being with the Father will now be rendered consubstantial with the Father, meaning that Jesus shares the same divine nature as the Father – in essence, to use grossly non-theological language, that they are made of the same “stuff.” Likewise, rather than saying, as is current, that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and became man, we will proclaim that he was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man. The distinction is that Jesus wasn’t simply born, but as God, existed before all time and that his birth was the event when God literally took on flesh (carne) in becoming one like us.

The bottom line, for now at least, is that it’s a ways off. You can, however, further your personal education by going to www.usccb.org/romanmissal to access more materials of interest. Rest assured, we will be doing our part as a community to make this eventual transition as smooth as possible.

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

In this weekend’s gospel, the disciples observe Jesus at prayer. This peaks their curiosity and acknowledging his teaching role, as the disciples of John the Baptist did towards John, they want to learn to pray as Jesus does. Such is the way of life, isn’t it? Our curiosity and interest are nurtured through exposure. We are drawn to learn more about something or someone once we’ve had some sort of introduction.

Jesus was doing something that came quite naturally to him. He was spending time with the Father. Human beings, I believe, are natural observers. Think about it for a moment. Isn’t that what advertisers depend upon? Their job, whether it be in print media, on the internet, or through a 30 second commercial, is to get our attention. They often will employ actors or models in situations where their product is strategically placed, or some connection is made. Now, granted, we know that simply by eating that particular cereal we aren’t going to automatically turn into the athlete pictured on the box, and that the attractive individual standing next to the car isn’t included when we make the purchase. Yet, they are there to get our attention.

Now, the big difference is that Jesus wasn’t selling something in that way. He was forming disciples but also engaging in something normal and natural. He was staying in contact with his Father. Occasionally I’ll get questioned as to what is the best way to pray? Jesus answers the question for his followers by reciting the Our Father, certainly the prayer most common among all Christians. In the Lord’s prayer we see key elements of adoration, contrition, and intercession. Such is the case with most formal prayer, particularly the highest form of prayer that we have: the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We gather as God’s children, we repent of our sins, we hear his voice in the Word proclaimed, we present our intercessions, and then engage in the great act of thanksgiving as we celebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Regarding our personal prayer time, that can be as diverse as the individual. Some people are most attracted to contemplative prayer employing forms such as lectio divina (divine reading); that is, prayerfully reading the scriptures or some spiritual book with the goal not simply of finishing, but dwelling upon words and phrases as springboards towards meditation. Some people use traditional prayer forms such as devotions and novenas as ways of meditating on the mysteries of our faith. Some can sit quietly in the presence of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Some find the Lord in the midst of a solitary activity such as gardening. One classic work that I would recommend is a small book entitled Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. Simply put, he writes of simple ways of being ever-conscious of the Lord’s presence throughout the day.

Of course, there are some who are more attracted to more charismatic forms of prayers, including verbal spontaneous prayer. Some engaged in “embodied” prayer that might include kneeling, lying prostrate, or raising ones hands. It really doesn’t matter so much as how one prays. What matters is that we continue to develop our friendship with the Lord by making time.

Last weekend I was happy to participate in the Mass of Installation for the new officers of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 3413 celebrated by Bishop Mitch Rozanski at the Columbian Center, along with Msgr. Auer, Fr. Michael, Warren Tanghe, Sr. Linda, Sr. Maureen, and Sr. Barbara. Congratulations to Grand Knight Jerry Hostomsky and all the new officers for the coming year. I look forward to working with the Council as Associate Chaplain this year. I was one of many seminarians that the Council has adopted over the years; in my case, that was 20 years ago! I thank them for their past support of my priestly vocation and am excited to be able to give back a little. I do encourage Catholic men to consider participating in the Knights of Columbus. They really are a fine group of guys and I hope to strengthen the ties between Council 3413 and St. John’s.

The Joys of Summer

It may be summertime, but so much has been happening in the parish. Fr. Michael is getting settled into his new environment in the rectory, where we’ve done a little painting. The entire parking lot was resealed and the lines repainted as well as repairs to the walkways are noticeable. Some dead and dying trees in front of the school have been removed and will be replaced later in the year. And, of course, work has begun on replacing the flat roof on the school building. Thanks to all who have pledged to support the roof replacement drive! Also, I’d like to thank Mr. Clarence Bryant, our Parish Controller, and Eddie Gibbons and Paul Myers, our maintenance staff, for all they’ve done to help move things along.

Still, more important things have been going on as well! We had 135 children participate in this year’s Vacation Bible School Camp, supported by what seemed an equal number of volunteers assisting. I was particularly impressed with how many of our young people were involved! Kudos to everyone who made the week such an enjoyable time for our kids. Of note, participants well exceeded a challenge to contribute 800 non-perishable food items to our St. Vincent de Paul pantry by bringing in over 950! As a result, our Director of Religious Education, Mr. John Poland, and I each gave one another a pie in the face. Mmmmm, chocolate. Let’s just say that a good time was had by all!

Our scouting programs have been quite active as well. Currently a number of young men in our troop are on a major camping trip in Arizona and a few weeks back we sent a virtual “tribe” of scouts to Broadcreek. Thanks to all of our adult leaders who help to perpetuate the finest ideals of scouting to these young men. Last weekend we commissioned a delegation of almost 50 teens and adults who participated in a “Micah Experience” Work Camp in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, bringing the Lord’s presence to so many in need through their physical labor. They are returning this weekend and I promised them that the parish would host a pizza party for anyone who’d like to come and hear their experiences. We’ll get that date to you shortly. I’m sure they’ll have lots to share about their experiences.

This week many priests in our archdiocese are attending a workshop regarding the implementation of the new Roman Missal – the official prayers, responses, and acclamations used in the celebration of Mass. The latest edition of the Missal was released, in Latin, in the year 2000. What we will be implementing are essentially new translations of the prayers and responses that are more faithful to the literal Latin sense. Implementation is expected to take place in late 2011. I’d encourage you to check out www.usccb.org/romanmissal where you can access information on the process as well as see the new translations of the Order of Mass. The Church is taking time to insure that everyone, ordained and lay, have opportunity for catechesis before implementation. Also, Msgr. Rob Jaskot is writing a series in The Catholic Review that will be of help. I encourage you to take advantage of these resources.

While all the activity is a sign of life in our community, we also need to allow the words of this weekend’s gospel penetrate our spirits. We hear the familiar story of Martha, the active one, and Mary, the contemplative. Martha was energized by activity but learns from the Lord Jesus that sometimes we need to simply take time to sit at the Lord’s feet and listen. In other words, foundational to all that we do as a community is our life of prayer – communal and personal. Making participation in Holy Mass a priority is key to our spiritual health, but also making sure to allot time each day to simply sit with the Lord in prayer – perhaps reading scripture or other spiritual reading, praying the rosary or engaging in other devotions, or simply sitting quietly before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament or in a quiet place. It’s all about balance in life – bringing God to our experiences and bringing our experiences to God.